How much exposition is too much exposition?

[Darth_Biomech]

When does exposition becomes an infodump? We all know there's the two extremes of telling you completely nothing about the pot versus pages upon pages of nothing but walls of text about the history of this ancient kingdom, but where do you think the limits of acceptable lie?

And what's the most unobtrusive way of giving reader the exposition? In my comic there's a couple of scenes where one character literally doing a presentation, that contains the infodump, to other characters. Is that on the nose "mr. exposition"? Or the context of the scene makes it fine?

[inkycharland]

I've run into this on occasion. I am a fan of just getting it over and done with. Here's an example:

However, if I can avoid it, I will. Showing is always better than telling. If you can work it into the dialog and work it in slowly over time, it's better. You don't have to rush it. And most importantly, does it move the story forward? Is it just backstory or an aside? Is it some history that the reader only needs a couple of parts of the info?

If it doesn't move the story forward or doesn't provide info the reader needs, don't include it.

[dawgofdawgness]

I guess when it comes at an unnatural or inconvenient time in the story - I think, nobody REALLY wants the story to halt just so they can have some lore read to them. But as long as you keep it interesting and relevant I guess some small infodumps are fine.

For comics, maybe try to avoid HUGE blocks of texts and “long ago there were 3 kingdoms ... blah blah blah” kind of stuff. Just be creative!

[SuperRazz]

I think exposition becomes annoying when it is the author's intent to present the information, rather than the character's. But yes, it would depend on the context and how the exposition is delivered.

why is your character doing a presentation? I remember an episode in Attack on titan where the same method is done. A lecturer explained the weakness of titans and the types of titans. It was short too so it wasn't boring.

But if your character's presentation can be shown through slow world building and characterization instead, then you should omit this scene. You said "scenes" too so I worry it might be too info-dumpy if you have to make more than one scene for a character's presentation.

[libs]

I think the exposition should be just enough to follow the story. If you think you are info dumping, try removing the scene entirely and see if it works.

in my opinion, too much info is much dangerous than lack of info. It is also much easier to fix later. (just add a world building episode later on). Also if the information is truly important than the story itself should be enough to explain it.

for example, John Wick doesn't explain anything yet we have no problem understanding what is happening or how the world works. (If you haven't watched john wick yet then I really recommend you do )

[inkycharland]

for example, John Wick doesn't explain anything yet we have no problem understanding what is happening or how the world works.

Yep. A perfect example. You understand almost the whole world through context.

[ar-ninetysix]

Honestly, just doing it through context is the best. I kinda feel like nothing should have to be explained if it's like super common knowledge in universe. If it's unraveling new pieces of info, then going little by little, or being super quick and concise is probably for the best.. even better if you can deliver it in a fun or memorable way in those little chunks.

I dunno, you can always try to show it in some little side story where someone else unrelated to the main plot is learning that stuff for the first time. Something like a new character learning all this could be cool to feature little by little at the end of a chapter or something. Idk just an idea

[GesuGesu]

For a novel, the info dump shouldn't last more than a paragraph at a time. If not, I'm just reading a page's worth of explanation. You should really only need to insert explanations in when needed.

For a class webcomic, preferably no more than 2 pages of infodump at a time.

For a scroll comic, preferably no more than 5 panels of info dump at a time.

My attention span is limited. Gimme my action now!

[djwaglmuffin]

I hate this conversation. There are so many ways to pace this and to illustrate what's happening.

Your characters can go on a long a tangent as you want. Here are a few things I've learned about this:

1. If this is dialogue that can be drawn, do it. Remember, comics are a visual story medium more akin to Film. If it can be shown, show it.

2. If the dialogue feels like too much TO YOU, then summarize. Or make sure to break the paragraph up in chunks at a good pace that still leads the reader in the direction you want them to go. You can also use this dialogue as a sort of "montage". For example, have images behind the text to help illustrate what your character is talking about to add visual aid to the words.

3. Do whatever you feel is right for your story. The idea that characters can't have a monologue or something is kind of dump.

NOW: that is not to say that you can accidentally make it look really stupid but as long as the dialogue is acting like your panels as in, paced well, still in rhythm with the scene, and leading the reader to the next...do your thing, yo.

Yes. How, don't tell, but if words are necessary to get a point across, do it. And don't apologize for it.

[vothnthorvaldson]

More an extra question that an answer: Is it a good idea in your opinion to keep the necessary info to a minimum in the comic itself, but make extras about it between chapters, not necessary for understanding, but giving extra depth if read? (that's precisely what I'm working on right at this minute, so it's very pertinent to me, and I thought it could possibly be pertinent to OP?)

[Iris-Grimoire]

Show don't tell is very important, after all, it's a comic and not an illustrated novel. However, if push comes to shove and you do need to introduce the readers to lore, break it up as much as possible - have interesting things happening on the panels or make the characters discuss or show their personality through it, don't sit everyone down for a lecture which might be as boring to them as it is to who's reading. And if it's not all essential right now, look through your notes to see what can be pushed to a later date. I don't actually talk about my comic's world's "origin" until chapter 2, for example, and even then it's just enough so people know the character's struggles - tidbits and hints come through the rest of the dialogue or visual storytelling, or even Extras episodes if it's for the very curious ones and doesn't affect the plot.

And no walls of text, imho. Even if your exposition is several paragraphs, break up the text so it's four lines per bubble (or rectangle, or nothing) as it can easily bore someone who's trying to understand all of it and look at the art together. An actual good use of wall of text is if a character is blabbering away in the background of another scene or the focus character isn't paying attention to their speech, and it's optional for the reader to actually try to decipher that or not.

[inkycharland]

I think those "bonus" things are good. It's more supplemental than content. If the readers want to go beyond the boundaries of the story, they have a place to turn. They can add value while not hampering the story.

[punkarsenic]

i think its too much when it stops the reader from getting to learn it for themselves. stories are a game you play with your audience, so on one hand you need to lay out the rules, but on the other if they cant play it because youre just handing them all the story information, theyre gonna clock out.

[JRHoch]

About the exact same amount of text that you put in your question.

[JRHoch]

That's a lot of text for me in one space. If it was really interesting I'd keep reading, if not, I'd probably skip it.

[inkycharland]

Oh sure. I totally get it. I don't know that I'd read all that either. lol. I don't do a big data dumps often. I try really hard to avoid it. It's only one of three times I think I've ever really done that. And that page was quite a while ago. I've learned to work my way around it better by now.

Of course, good writers make it seem like nothing to read loads of text like that. (Writers far better than me.) The fact that I've kept any readers to this point still surprises me.

[Freemints30]

if the information is not immediately relevant or would seen very early on any way then its not really all that necessary. Like in Full metal alchemist every episode starts with an explanation of how alchemy is an equal exchange and through out the series we see more in depth explanation through character actions and consequences (like when ed and AL are shown trying to resurrect their mom and we see the consequences).
Give your audience some credit the majority can infer information without it being shove down their throats.

[Darth_Biomech]

why is your character doing a presentation? I remember an episode in Attack on titan where the same method is done. A lecturer explained the weakness of titans and the types of titans. It was short too so it wasn't boring.

But if your character's presentation can be shown through slow world building and characterization instead, then you should omit this scene. You said "scenes" too so I worry it might be too info-dumpy if you have to make more than one scene for a character's presentation.

Well, one scene is the scientist discussing some of the discoveries he made about aliens that should elevate questions about why they just don't drop dead from human flu, and why earth in turn isn't suffering a deadly unstoppable pandemic from the alien flu... The other scene is the other character doing a report to the government about same aliens, touching more on the technical side, which is supposed to push them into making decisions to advance plot. Strictly speaking first scene isn't necessary for the plot, but I trying to smear the infodump over the entire comic to dilute it's infodumpness. I could cram all that in the report ot the gov, but it probably isn't the best idea. Removing the infodump and showing it through action...

I honestly don't know how to organically show that the aliens have replaced their entire immune systems with implants and that's because they're completely clear of any microorganisms both earthly and extraterrestrial, for example, other than some character just explaining that. On the other hand I also don't want that question to be left unanswered either, since it looks like a dumb plothole for me. Especially in a comic that strives to not portray aliens in a typical silly way of 99% of other scifi media.

[Iris-Grimoire]

Maybe have a character in the know brag about it? Like the aliens are on the planet, one of them is a newbie and is scared, and an experienced one reassures with "relax, we have implants to protect us from disease and not even our diseases can propagate"?

It might be an 'as you know' moment which is even worse than exposition if poorly handled, but sometimes you can move some things around so someone in the dark has to be told "obvious" information. But again, you need to be careful or it's worse than an infodump.

[SuperRazz]

Discussions and explanations aren't bad as long as they are paced well and that they're not too long. It'll be a turn off if it's done right at the comic's first page. It's best to do them after a huge action scene. Succeeding action scenes can overwhelm the readers but a well done exposition scene placed in between them can relax the pace to prepare them for the next one.

Yep, spreading the information and revealing information when the event calls for it is the better approach. You can have characters do the explanations as the events happen instead of them just sitting and talking. Like maybe someone being surprised about the immune system of one of the alien cadavers they found while one of them tinker with the body and explain their discovery.

The other scene is the other character doing a report to the government about same aliens, touching more on the technical side, which is supposed to push them into making decisions to advance plot

This'll be a tricky one to do. You don't want to make it obvious that this scene is intentionally made just to push the plot. I suggest making the characters have their own motivations which led them to delivering the information. Maybe the character is mad because the government isn't taking any action so he goes to them to deliver what knows about the Aliens. Or maybe the government doesn't know the next step to stop the aliens so they have your character come in. So basically, make it look like the characters have decided themselves that they have to give the information rather than making it seem like it's the author talking through the characters. I hope that makes sense.